8 Apr 2024

Forget bird of the year - it's all about "Tree of the Year" now

From Afternoons, 1:15 pm on 8 April 2024

Many of you will have heard of Bug of the Year ... and it would be hard to escape the frenzy around the notoriously controversial Bird of the Year.

Now we have Tree of the Year - but in contrast to the flashy fauna competitions, this one is all about the stories that connect us to the flora.

Nicki van Asch from the NZ Arboricultural Association talks to Jesse.

The pohutukawa tree (Metrosideros excelsa) with its crimson flower has become an established part of the New Zealand Christmas tradition.

The pohutukawa tree (Metrosideros excelsa) with its crimson flower has become an established part of the New Zealand Christmas tradition. Photo: Melanie Lovell-Smith, Te Ara